Independence
Posted on January 22, 2005
I was just reading this article over at the Indy Star website about how the newly inaugurated Governor is seeking mass resignations from various state boards. I don’t think this is a very good idea.
Maybe it’s some Indiana thing I don’t know about. At the federal level, certain government positions are appointed to terms that don’t correspond to the presidential election cycle. I think the terms are usually 6 years, though for some positions like judges and justices it is for life. The Directors of the FBI, CIA, and NSA (maybe), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Federal Reserve Board, etc. are examples. The main reason for this is so the appointees can retain a certain independence outside of politics. They are supposed to be independent and make decisions that are for the good of the country, not what’s best for the party in power.
Our new governor, Mitch Daniels is a Republican, and I am assuming most of these people were appointed by Democrats. He probably wants to appoint people he thinks he can “work with”. I think it is more important for Indiana that these positions retain their independence. The Governor might not agree with some of the positions these people take, but it is important for them to do their jobs free from political interference. Why is it important?
As an example, one of the boards he is seeking resignations from is the State Board of Education. Suppose he were to load the board with people who think we shouldn’t be teaching evolution. That would be bad, IMHO. I am fine with teaching creation and evolution as two competing theories. I respect different viewpoints and think we should allow people to air them, but I don’t want the Governor remaking the government in his own image or being a rubber-stamp for his policies.
The strength of our society is it’s diversity, and the same idea should hold for the government. Creating a government where sycophancy rules and dissent is anathema will only lead to trouble.
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